convict

[kuhn-vikt, kon-vikt]

verb (used with object)

1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial.

   to convict a prisoner of a felony.

2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

noun

1. a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.

2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective

1. Archaic.,  convicted.

convict

verb

1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

noun

1. a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment

2. a person serving a prison sentence

adjective

1. obsolete,  convicted

Other Word Forms

• convictable adjective
• convictible adjective
• convictive adjective
• convictively adverb
• preconvict verb (used with object)
• reconvict verb (used with object)
• unconvicting adjective
• unconvictive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of convict¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb convicten, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + vic-, variant stem of vincere “to overcome” + -tus past participle suffix; Middle English noun convict “(a) convict,” adjective convict “convicted,” past participle of convicten “to convince” (or directly from Latin ); con-, convince

Word History and Origins

Origin of convict¹

C14: from Latin convictus convicted of crime, from convincere to prove guilty, _convince

Example Sentences

Barghouti is serving five life sentences plus 40 years after being convicted by an Israeli court in 2004 of planning attacks in which five civilians were killed.

Read more on BBC

The author was convicted after he lost a libel trial against Lord Queensberry, who had accused him of being homosexual after discovering that his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, aka Bosie, was Wilde's lover.

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The couple were convicted but the judge issued an absolute discharge meaning there was no punishment.

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Hasina, already convicted in July for contempt of court and sentenced in absentia to six months in prison, also faces ongoing corruption cases.

Read more on Barron's

If convicted as charged, he faces a federal prison sentence ranging from a mandatory minimum of five years to a statutory maximum of 45 years, prosecutors said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• captive 
• felon 
• prisoner